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United States Patent |
6,095,106
|
Kaluris
|
August 1, 2000
|
Cyclo-valve for internal combustion engines
Abstract
Presented is a new rotary or cyclo-valve system for engines, such as
internal combustion engines, that greatly simplifies the valve system for
such engines. The cyclo-valve simply rotates to align its gas passageways
with inlets to or outlets from engine cylinders in time with the
combustion and exhaust cycles of the engine. The cyclo-valves themselves
may be in the form of a rotary shaft, discs, or similar rotating elements.
There are no valve lifters and no valve "float" at high engine rotational
speeds as there are with state-of-the-art engines. Gas passageways, while
preferred to be through the cyclo-valve, may also pass, at least
partially, external to the cyclo-valve. In the preferred embodiment,
sealing is at least partially accomplished by labyrinth seals. The instant
invention cyclo-valve may be applied to all manner of engine including
piston, rotary such as the Wankel, etc.
Inventors:
|
Kaluris; Emmanuel (2931 Hidden Hollow La., Davie, FL 33328)
|
Appl. No.:
|
363981 |
Filed:
|
July 28, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: |
123/190.1; 123/190.14 |
Intern'l Class: |
F01L 007/00 |
Field of Search: |
123/190.1,190.14
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4976227 | Dec., 1990 | Draper | 123/80.
|
4989576 | Feb., 1991 | Coates | 123/80.
|
5417188 | May., 1995 | Schiattino | 123/190.
|
5524579 | Jun., 1996 | Eluchans | 123/79.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
62-265413 | Nov., 1987 | JP | 123/190.
|
Primary Examiner: McMahon; Marguerite
Assistant Examiner: Harris; Katrina B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wall; Robert J. Van Der
Claims
What I claim is:
1. In an improved engine requiring timed fuel injection and exhaust, the
improvement comprising:
an inlet cyclo-valve operating in timed sequence with a piston's position
in a cylinder of said engine and an exhaust cyclo-valve operating in timed
sequence with the piston's position in the cylinder of said engine whereby
gas passage to and from said cylinder is, at least primarily, controlled
by operation of said inlet and exhaust cyclo-valves, and wherein the gas
passageway is at least partially venturi-shaped and passes through at
least one of said cyclo-valves.
2. The improved engine of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of gas passage
is around an outside of at least one of said cyclo-valves.
3. The improved engine of claim 1 wherein gas sealing of at least one of
said cyclo-valves is at least partially accomplished by means of a
labyrinth seal.
4. The improved engine of claim 1 wherein at least one of said cyclo-valves
is at least partially a rotating disc.
5. The improved engine of claim 4 wherein said rotating disc includes a gas
passageway.
6. The improved engine of claim 5 wherein said gas passageway is at least
partially venturi-shaped.
7. In an improved engine requiring timed fuel injection and exhaust, the
improvement comprising:
inlet and exhaust cyclo-valves on a common rotational axis with operation
of said inlet and exhaust cyclo-valves in timed sequence with a piston's
position in a cylinder of said engine whereby gas passage to and from said
cylinder is, at least primarily, controlled by operation of said inlet and
exhaust cyclo-valves, and wherein the gas passageway is at least partially
venturi-shaped and passes through at least one of said cyclo-valves.
8. The improved engine of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of gas passage
is around an outside of at least one of said cyclo-valves.
9. The improved engine of claim 7 wherein at least one of said cyclo-valves
is at least partially a rotating disc.
10. The improved engine of claim 9 wherein said rotating disc includes a
gas passageway.
11. The improved engine of claim 10 wherein said gas passageway is at least
partially venturi-shaped.
12. The improved engine of claim 7 wherein gas sealing of at least one of
said cyclo-valves is at least partially accomplished by means of a
labyrinth seal.
13. In an improved engine requiring timed fuel injection and exhaust, the
improvement comprising:
inlet and exhaust cyclo-valves with operation of said inlet and exhaust
cyclo-valves in timed sequence with a firing cycle of said engine whereby
gas passage to and from said engine is, at least primarily controlled by
operation of said inlet and exhaust cyclo-valves, and wherein the gas
passageway is at least partially venturi-shaped and passes through at
least one of said cyclo-valves.
14. The improved engine of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of gas
passage is around an outside of at least one of said cyclo-valves.
15. The improved engine of claim 13 wherein gas sealing of at least one of
said cyclo-valves is at least partially accomplished by means of a
labyrinth seal.
16. The improved engine of claim 13 wherein at least one of said
cyclo-valves is at least partially a rotating disc.
17. The improved engine of claim 13 wherein said rotating disc includes a
gas passageway.
18. The improved engine of claim 17 wherein said gas passageway is at least
partially venturi-shaped.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Internal combustion engines, be they gasoline, diesel, natural gas, or
other, require means to accurately control the amount of and the timing of
injection of fuel/air mixtures and then the exhaust of the products of
combustion during their operating cycles. Heretofore this has most
commonly been done by more or less disc-shaped circular valves with stems
that are individually opened at the required times with their operating
force requirements supplied by cams or the like. This makes for a rather
complex and expensive apparatus that adds much to the cost of basic
engine. Newer design engines can have four valves per cylinder that
translates to 32 complex valve systems for an eight-cylinder engine.
Additionally, especially in the case of cam operated valves, there can be
a condition referred to as "valve float" at high engine rotational speeds
which places upper rotational speed limits on such engines.
There are also simple two cycle internal combustion engines that operate
without valves. These valveless two cycle engines require a mixture of oil
and gasoline for proper lubrication of bearings, piston rings and the
like. Examples of such two cycle engines can be found today mainly in
small engines used in lawn maintenance equipment and outboard motors.
However, such two cycle engines generally will not pass current
environmental requirements for emissions and are inherently inefficient.
There are also internal combustion engines that use fuel injectors. While
efficient, fuel injected engines have noticeably higher initial and
maintenance costs.
The instant invention presents a far simpler and less expensive valve
system concept than conceived heretofore. In the preferred embodiment, it
employs a rotating element generally circular-shaped member, referred to
herein as a cyclo-valve, that has ports or passageways that pierce it
and/or operate around its periphery. Rotation of the cyclo-valve
alternatively aligns a port with a cylinder of the parent engine. The
cyclo-valve rotational speed is in time with engine rotational speed so
that the cyclo-valve's ports are properly aligned for intake or exhaust of
gases as required. Power requirements as well as complexity of the instant
invention are both much less than that of present state-of-the-art engine
cam or hydraulic driven valve lifter systems. This is because the instant
invention's cyclo-valve design requires only low energy consumption
rotational motion. The result of the instant invention is a more efficient
and less costly engine that cannot encounter "valve float" at high engine
rotational speeds. The result of being able to turn at higher engine
rotational speeds is that smaller, lighter, and more efficient engines can
be developed. A further embellishment to reduce initial and maintenance
costs comes in the form of low cost non-wearing labyrinth gas seals that
are offered in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the forgoing in mind, it is the principal object of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention to provide a simple new rotary valve
or cyclo-valve system for internal combustion engines that reduces the
complexity and energy requirements of existing state-of-the-art engine
valve systems.
A related object of the invention is that the instant invention shall
increase horsepower output of a given engine displacement.
It is an object of the invention that its cylinder heads shall be lighter
and smaller.
A further related object of the invention is that an engine utilizing the
cyclo-valve design of the instant invention shall be lighter and less
massive than a comparable power state-of-the-art engine.
It is yet another benefit of the instant invention that it can operate at
higher rotational speeds than state-of-the-art engines.
A related object of the invention is that is shall have more efficient gas
passage and better "breathing" at high rotational speeds than
state-of-the-art engines.
It is a related object of the invention that the cyclo-valve system shall
be in the form of a shaft with said shaft having gas passageways disposed
through it.
It is a further related object of the invention that the gas passageways
shall pass through the cyclo-valve shaft in a substantially transverse
direction.
It is another related object of the invention that gas can pass around
passageways formed between the outside of the cyclo-valve shaft and a gas
passageway in a housing such as a cylinder head.
It is yet another object of the invention that openings and closings of
cyclo-valve passageway that are in gaseous communication with a cylinder
shall be time with piston position in the cylinder head.
It is a further object of the invention that sealing of the gas passageways
and/or the cyclo-valve shall be accomplished, at least in part, by
labyrinth seals or similar close tolerance fittings.
It is yet another object of the invention that other types of seals, such
as contact seals, shall be also considered as usable.
An optional object of the invention utilizes rotary disc or otherwise
shaped cyclo-valve members that are of a different diameter than their
driving shaft and whereby gas passageways are in such valve members.
It is directly related object of the invention that gas can pass around
passageways formed between the outside of the rotating disc-like
cyclo-valve member and a gas passageway in a housing such as a cylinder
head
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 presents a centerline cross-sectional view of a cylinder head that
shows inlet and outlet rotary valves or cyclo-valves of the instant
invention. In this stage of the engine's cycle, a spark plug has fired to
thereby ignite a compressed gas mixture above the piston. The transversely
oriented valve openings in the cyclo-valves are closed. While not shown,
it is considered within the scope of the instant invention that gas
passageways may at least in part pass around the outside of a cyclo-valve.
Note that carburetors, exhaust systems, and the like have been omitted
from the drawings for simplification since their locations would be
obvious to someone skilled in the art. It is also to be noted that the
instant invention cyclo-valves can be applied to other engine types such
as the Wankel rotary engine, etc.
FIG. 2 shows the same cross-section as FIG. 1 but with the piston displaced
lower as it is accelerating downward in its power stroke. The cyclo-valve
openings, while at a different part of their rotation cycle, remain
closed.
FIG. 3 gives the same cross-sectional view as FIGS. 1 and 2 but with the
piston now traveling upward as it is now opening to exhaust the combusted
gases from the cylinder. Note that the exhaust cyclo-valve is now oriented
such that its exhaust valve opening is aligned with the exhaust ports in
the cylinder head so that there is an open passageway for exhaust gas to
freely flow outward.
FIG. 4 presents the same cross-sectional view as FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 but
with the piston now near top-dead-center and starting downward. The intake
cyclo-valve has its inlet valve opening aligned with the cylinder ports to
allow easy gas flow through into the cylinder in this part of the engine's
cycle. This downward motion of the piston draws the new gas mixture into
the cylinder thereby starting another cycle. Note that while the
piston/cylinder arrangement shown here illustrates a four-cycle piston
engine that other engine types as well as engines with a different number
of cycles are certainly considered within the spirit and scope of the
instant invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 3 that shows the preferred
embodiment of the cyclo-valve labyrinth seals as disposed around the
exhaust cyclo-valve. An additional more conventional contact seal that
adds to positive sealing ability is also shown here. Another detail is an
optional venturi throat that is incorporated as part of the outlet gas
passageway. This optional venturi-throat aids in controlling gas flow
rates through the cyclo-valve.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 3 that shows the preferred
embodiment of the cyclo-valve labyrinth seals 36 as disposed around the
exhaust cyclo-valve 38. An additional more conventional contact seal 49
that adds to positive sealing ability is also shown here. Another detail
is a venturi throat 50 that is incorporated as part of the outlet gas
passageway 40 in the cyclo-valve 38. This optional venturi throat 50
offers a high efficiency way to control gas flows through the gas
passageway.
FIG. 6 shows a typical valve shaft as would be used in the preferred
embodiment of the instant invention as was shown in FIGS. 1-5 which in
this case is oriented to allow exhaust gases to escape.
FIG. 7 presents an alternative concept of the instant invention cyclo-valve
system. In this case, the gas passageways are disposed in discs and gas
flow is through the discs.
FIG. 8 illustrates the cyclo-valve system of the embodiment of the instant
invention that was presented in FIG. 7. While not shown, it is considered
within the scope of the instant invention that gas passageways may at
least in part pass around the outside of the just described disc portion
of this alternative embodiment of a cyclo-valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 presents a centerline cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment
of the instant invention. Shown in the cylinder head 45 are an inlet
rotary valve or cyclo-valve 35 and its inlet valve passageway 37 and an
outlet rotary valve or cyclo-valve 38 and its outlet valve passageway 40.
The valve passageways 37, 40 are transversely oriented in the preferred
embodiment of the invention. In this stage of the engine's cycle, a spark
plug 32 has fired as is indicated by ignition spark s 44 to thereby ignite
a compressed gas mixture above the piston 31. The piston 31 is starting
its downward motion as is indicated by direction arrow 33. The valve
openings 37, 40 in the cyclo-valve shafts are, of course, closed in this
part of the illustrated four-cycle engine's cycle as they are not aligned
with either the cylinder head inlet ports 47 or exhaust ports 48. Other
items shown in FIG. 1 are the cylinder 34, connecting rod 42, piston rings
39, spark plug wire 43, valve rotation direction arrows 41, and
cyclo-valve labyrinth seals 36.
FIG. 2 presents the same centerline cross-sectional view as FIG. 1 but at a
slightly later time where the piston 31 has traveled further down in the
cylinder head 45. Note that while the cyclo-valves 35, 38 have rotated
that the valve passageways 37, 40 are still not aligned with their
corresponding cylinder head ports 47 and 48. Therefore, there is no gas
flow as both valve passageways are closed.
FIG. 3 is yet another view that presents the same centerline
cross-sectional view as FIGS. 1 and 2 but with the piston 31 moving upward
as indicted by motion arrow 33 during the exhaust cycle of the engine.
Note that the exhaust gas passageway 40 of the exhaust cyclo-valve 38 has
rotated so that it is now oriented with the exhaust ports 48 in the
cylinder head 45 to thereby allow free flow of exhaust gases out of the
cylinder. Gas flow is indicted by gas flow arrow 30.
FIG. 4 presents the same cross-sectional view as FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 but
with the piston 31 starting its downward movement to draw in a fresh new
gas mixture as indicted by gas flow arrow 30. In this part of the engine's
cycle, the inlet cyclo-valve 35 has rotated such that its gas passageway
37 is aligned with the inlet ports 47 in the cylinder head 45.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 3 that shows the preferred
embodiment of the cyclo-valve's labyrinth seals 36 as disposed around the
exhaust cyclo-valve 38. An additional more conventional contact seal 49
that adds to positive sealing ability is also shown here. Another detail
is a venturi throat 50 that is incorporated as part of the outlet gas
passageway 40 in the cyclo-valve 38. This optional venturi throat 50
offers a high efficiency way to control gas flows through the gas
passageway.
FIG. 6 illustrates a typical cyclo-valve 38 as is part of the preferred
embodiment of the instant invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. Note that
in this case the exhaust gas is flowing through the cyclo-valve as is
depicted by gas flow arrows 30. It is to be noted that while the
illustrations shown in the drawings are for a single cylinder that
multiple cylinder applications of the cyclo-valve are normal. A single
continuous cyclo-valve can extend between cylinders or multiple single
cylinder cyclo-valves can be interconnected between cylinders by way of
gear teeth, cams, or the like.
FIG. 7 presents an alternative concept of the instant invention cyclo-valve
that uses an inlet rotary disc 51 and an outlet rotary disc 52 that are
rotated by shaft 53. In the part of the engine cycle illustrated here, the
exhaust gas passageway 40 is aligned with the exhaust gas port 48 so that
exhaust gas is dispensed from the cylinder 34. While contact seals 49 are
shown here, other gas sealing means, including labyrinth seals, are
usable.
FIG. 8 shows a typical cyclo-valve system as is used in the version of the
instant invention shown in FIG. 7. In this instance, the exhaust gas, as
shown by gas flow arrows 30, is exiting through exhaust gas passageway 40.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred and
several alternative embodiments, it will be understood that there is no
intention to thereby limit the invention. On the contrary, there is
intended to be covered all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as
may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
appended claims, which are the sole definition of the invention.
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